Locals run half-marathon at Disney

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 2, 2011

From L to R: Stephanie Dillard, Melissa Donaldson, Heather Mount and Lisa Locklier. | Courtesy photo

Andalusia locals Stephanie Dillard, Lisa Locklier and Heather Mount were running princesses for the day at the 2011 Disney Princess Half Marathon Sunday in Orlando, Fla.

Additionally, Trussville, Ala. native Melissa Donaldson also ran with the trio from Andalusia, and each finished the 13.1-mile trek in just over two hours.

“It was a lot of fun,” Dillard said. “It was a challenge, but it was fun.”

Dillard, said training for the run took four to five months.

“We would run from 5-6 miles per day — some days we’d run 10 miles,” she said. “We ran 3-4 days per week, and then we’d go to the gym and lift weights a couple days per week as well.”

This was Dillard’s first half marathon. She has ran 5Ks, 10Ks and 15Ks.

When asked why she chose to do it, Dillard said that it was a “goal” she wanted to accomplish.

“It was something I had never done, and it was goal of mine to do,” she said.

For Locklier, when she came to the 12-mile marker in the run, she said she knew she was about to finish something great.

“My heart started beating harder and I started to get teary eyes,” Locklier said. “I felt good the whole way, and there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll do it again.”

Locklier said she trained two months for the run, but has been running for the last 2-3 years.

The run was held to benefit the Leukimia and Lymphoma Society, LLC., which helps fight against blood cancers.